Chapter 68
Despite the razor-wire tension, the sombre tone of the cavern brightened like fresh summer dawn when Noah returned. He had that familiar distracted look in his glowing eyes that he always had when he returned from Eden. Tessa drooled inwardly at the breathtaking sight of him standing, bare foot and bare chested, on the threshold between worlds like a young Hermes, ready to escort the souls of the deceased across to the afterlife. His hair was wet so she guessed he’d been swimming again. At least he’d remembered to put his jeans back on.
He gave a quick lift of his chin to Bane, and didn’t waste a single breath in delaying his news. ‘She’s back.’
Tears of both relief and disbelief flowed freely at the news. Mick let out a very unprofessional whoop and gave Tess a kiss on the cheek, while Bane slumped to his knees in utter relief and exhaustion.
Noah gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. ‘She’s pretty dazed so I told her to take things slow. It took a lot of Fruit to bring her back. Her mum sang to her for a while but nothing happened. In the end I insulted her. Quite a lot. That seemed to do the trick. I’m kind of glad you weren’t there to hear it though.’
‘If it worked, then I don’t care what you had to do. Thank you, Noah. Again. I owe you everything.’ Stripped to hollow emotion, the Guardian had nothing left with which to sustain his composure as he knelt and stared at the invisible wall between worlds. Silent sobs of double-edged release bowed his shoulders.
‘Yeah, that’s twice now that I’ve done your job for you,’ Noah joked. ‘Third time’s the charm though. Do I get a free gift next time?’
Tessa winced. She knew what was coming because it was exactly what she would have done. What she may yet have to do. She moved to stand next to Bane and placed her hand on his shoulder.
‘I’m going after Jake,’ Bane said to Noah. ‘Do you feel compelled to come?’
Her husband looked to her as if trying to figure out a way for him to go chasing after Jake without her and Nathaniel coming along. What crappy timing this was.
‘I don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘There’s no one to protect this place until Lainie returns. I think that without the sword here, guarding this place takes priority, but I have a burning need to get the weapon back too.’
‘I’ll do everything in my power to help you find it,’ the sergeant interjected. ‘I can’t imagine Jake will be brave enough to attend his mandatory appointments now. We’ll have all the help we need to catch him.’
Sure, because the justice system was so helpful last time, Tessa complained silently.
Bane seemed to agree. ‘Noah, I think you should collapse this cave like Lainie suggested. As soon as possible. Without the sword it’s the only way.’
Noah shook his head. ‘I don’t want … I don’t know if we can collapse the whole thing without inadvertently opening up new tunnels. The best we can do is build another rock wall like Uncle did, unless Lainie has a better idea—’ He broke off as Bane stood up and looked him in the eye.
‘I can’t protect her here. I’ve failed her twice now. I’m sorry, Noah, you’re going to have to do it without her help.’
‘Wait, you want me to lock her in there? Permanently?’ Noah swung his attention back toward the Boundary as if hoping Lainie would appear to talk some sense into him. ‘Last time it was her, this time it’s you! Seriously, you two are as bad as each other! Have you really thought this through?’ He sidled closer so the sergeant couldn’t easily overhear his next question, but Tessa heard it perfectly and it broke her heart. ‘What about, you know, continuing the line? You two didn’t, I mean …’
‘No, we didn’t, and a large part of me will regret it for the rest of my days. On the other hand I don’t know if I could have lived with myself knowing I had a daughter that I could never meet, so it’s just as well really.’ He slumped against a stalagmite as if he wanted it to draw him into its crystal embrace. ‘I’ve thought about it a lot, Noah. I’m sure this isn’t the only time in history that things haven’t gone as planned, and the line has always continued. The fact that Annie found Dallmin gives me hope. I’ve also been thinking about your parents.’ He looked up at Noah in stripped-back appeal. ‘Tell me honestly, do you believe that your mother was genuinely happy in her marriage?’
Unable to elude an honest answer, Noah gave a single nod. ‘I know she was. She loved Dad, and all of us.’
‘Then I have to believe the same will be true for Lainie. She’ll find someone else once the bond has been broken. A commitment has power of its own, and nowhere more than in Eden, from what I understand.’ A shiver seized him, as if the reality of his choice was just sinking in properly. His hand moved to his pocket as if searching for something, but whatever it was, it was missing. He looked bereft as he stared at his empty, blood-stained fingers, and Tessa fought to swallow down her tears. He didn’t need to see her cry.
Dallmin returned then, carrying a note he had apparently gone back to the car to write. She watched him halt, unbreathing when he saw that Noah had returned.
‘She’s okay,’ Noah told him graciously. Bane still refused to even look at him.
A slow relieved smile lit the man’s face, but shame still coloured his eyes. ‘I did not know she would die. I would never hurt Lainie. Thank you for taking her for healing, Noah,’ he said earnestly. He handed him the note. ‘Would you please give this to Annie for me? I must leave here now, and I will not return. I have to make things right. I want … no, I would greatly appreciate it if you would pass this to her. She deserves to know the truth about me, so she can move on. I don’t want for her to think that I am the same man she loved.’
Noah took the letter and said nothing. Everyone watched as Dallmin glanced at Bane, opened his mouth as if to speak to him, but then sighed, turned, and left the cavern.
Once he was out of sight Bane finally stirred, slipping his own note inside Dallmin’s and then nodding to Noah. ‘I’ll wait outside. We’ll need a body, once you feel ready. I’ll help you with the details,’ he offered, his expression bitterly resolute. ‘Make sure the rock wall is a solid one.’ Then he turned and left as well.